Box



S. J. KLEIN July 5, 1932.

BOX

Filed Feb. 14, 1931 Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE STANLEY J. KLEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T EMPIRE BOX CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BOX Application filed February 14, 1981.

This invention relates to boxes and more particularly to the kind made from heavy paper, cardboard or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a box which may be shipped in a collapsed condition in order that a large number may be stored in a relatively compact space.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a collapsiblebox embodying a minimum number of fold lines whereby the rigidity thereof will not be reduced when it is expanded into usable condition; to securely lock the box against collapsing after expansion thereof into usable condition; and to provide a box of simple and economical manufacture which may be easily collapsed or expanded.

In the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying draw- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank from which the box is formed;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the box in partly assembled condition;

,Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one corner of the box as arranged when it is expanded into usable condition; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail perspective views so taken from the inside of the box showing a corner thereof and the retention for holding the box in expanded condition.

The blank from which the box is formed is disclosed in the accompanying drawing and includes a bottom section 6 and side wall sections 7 and 8 joined to the bottom 6 along the fold lines 9 and 10. End wall sections 11 and 12 are joined to the bottom section 6 along fold lines 13 and 14. Joined to the 0 end wall 11 along the fold line 15 is the top section 16 which may be formed in any approved manner as, for example, that disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 491,- 138, filed October 25, 1930. At corresponding ends of the side walls 7 and 8 are end tabs Serial No. 515,657.

17 and 18 joined to the side walls along fold lines 19 and 20. In the blank the end tabs 17 and 18 extend parallel to the end wall 11 and the inwardly disposed edges of the tabs 17 and 18 are relieved to provide a clearance between said tabs and the end wall. On the side walls 7 and 8 are flaps 21 and 22 joined to the side walls along fold lines 23 and 24 extended substantially parallel to the fold lines 9 and 10. Joined to the ends of the side walls 7 and 8 opposite the tabs 17 and 18 along fold lines 25'and 26 are corner parts 27 and 28 which are likewise oined to the end Wall 12 along the fold lines 29 and 30. On the corner part 27, extending from the juncture of the fold lines 9, 25, 29, and 14, is a fold line 31 which extends diagonally of the corner part, and a fold line 32 extends from the juncture of the fold lines 23 and 25 diagonally across the corner part and intersects the fold line'31 medially thereof, said fold line 31 likewise intersecting the fold line 32 midway thereofi The corner part is cut away along extensions of the fold lines 31 and 32 beyond the intersection thereof to thereby define a retaining 70 tab 33 including a retaining ear 34. On the corner part 28 there is a fold line 35 which extends from the intersection of the fold lines 10, 14, 30 and 26, and another fold line 36 extends from the intersection of the fold lines 75 24 and 26 diagonally across the corner part intersecting the fold line 35, and this corner part is cut away, in the manner substantially similar to that in which the corner part 27 is cut away, to provide a retaining tab 37 having a retaining ear 38 thereon. Medially along the extent of the fold lines 29 and 30, slots 39 and 40 are formed for a purpose to be brought forth hereinafter. Extending diagonally across the side wall7 and the flap 21 S5 is a fold line 41, this line extending from the intersection of the fold lines 9, 19, and 13.

A similar fold line 42 extends diagonally across the side wall 8 and the flap 22 from the intersection of the fold lines 10, 20, and 13.

A blank of this character may be formed from stock material with a minimum amount of waste and will therefore afford economical manufacture.

A blank of the above described character is first formed into a box and this is done by folding the side walls 7 and 8 inwardly along the fold lines 9 and 10 to dispose these side walls at right angles to the bottom 6. The end wall 11 is then folded along the fold line 13 into right angular position with respect to the bottom 6 and the tabs 17 and 18 are arranged on the inner faceof the end wall 11 and are'secured thereto in an approved manner as by use of an adhesive. When the side walls 7 and 8 are bent upwardly the end wall 12 is likewise bent upwardly and therefore the corner parts 27 and 28 will be folded alon the fold lines 31 and 32 and 35 and36 to there y define triangular portions bounded by the fold lines 25, 31, and 32, and 26, 36 and 35, and when the end wall 12 is arranged at right angles to the bottom 6 these triangular portions are joined to the inner face of the adjacent side walls by an adhesive or in other approved manner. After the box has been so assembled it is ready for use, but the common practice is to collapse the box so that it will be substantially fiat to thereby facilitate storin thereof, and this is done by folding the si e walls 7 and 8 outwardly, and

when the side walls are folded outwardly the triangular portions thereof bounded by the fold lines 19 and 41 and 20 and 42 will be folded upon adjacent portions of the side walls along the fold lines 41 and 42, and similarly the corner parts are folded along the fold lines 31 and 35 to thereby permit the end wall '12 to be folded upon the bottom 6, it of course being apparent that the end wall 11 also folds upon the bottom 6 and the top 16 extends forwardly across the bottom 6 above the end wall 12. Thus, the box is in flat condition and a large number thereof may be arranged in a compact space to facilitate shipping and storing.

When it is desired to use the box, it is set up by grasping the sides 7 and 8 and folding them into right angular position relative to the bottom 6 and at this time the corner tabs 33 and 37 will rest against the adjacent of the side walls, as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the tab 33 is resting on side wall 7. This tab 33 will be grasped and folded along the line 32 to thereby permit the ear 34 to be extended through the opening 39, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and the tab 37 will be folded along the fold line 36 to permit the ear 38 to be extended through opening 40. The flaps 21 and 22 will then be folded inwardly to extend between the end walls 11 and 12 along the side walls 7 and 8 and therefore by reason of the disposition of the ears 34 and 38 in the slots 39 and 40 and the extent of the flaps 21 and 22, the box will be retained in expanded or set-up condition and will be prevented from collapsin The tendency to collapse will be at rig t angles "to the extent of the ears through the openings and therefore displacement of these ears from these openings will be effectively prevented.

It is apparent from the foregoing descri tion that I have provided a box which ma made from a relatively simple blank; w ich may be readily joined to provide a box; and WhlGh may be easily collapsed when so desired. Furthermore, this box has but two fold lines extending diagonally across walls thereof which greatly facilitates the maintaining of the box in expanded or set-up condition, for since there are but two fold lines the points at which the box may collapse are reduced to a minimum. Moreover, a very effective retention is provided for holding the box in set-up condition consisting of devices arranged in retaining position so that forces tending to displace the same will act at right angles thereto. And moreover, additional reenforcement extends between the front and rear walls to thereby further insure against collapsing of the box.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of construction of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A blank for a box of the character stated comprising a bottom section, side wall sections, end wall sections, tabs at corresponding ends of said side wall sections and joined to the adjacent of said end wall sections, and corner parts at the opposite ends of said side wall sections and joined to the adjacent of said end wall sections, said corner parts having diagonally extending intersecting fold lines thereon and having portions intermediate said fold lines at the edges thereof cut away to provide retaining tabs outwardly of corresponding fold lines, said end wall section adjacent said corner parts having openings therein adapted to receive portions of said retaining tabs when said retaining tabs are folded into parallelism with said side walls.

2. A box of the class described comprising a bottom, side walls, end walls, corner parts at the corresponding ends of said side walls and joined to the adjacent of said end walls, said corner parts having diagonally exte ing intersecting fold lines thereon and having portions between said fold lines at the outer edges thereof cut away to provide retaining tabs outwardly of corresponding of said fold lines, means securing the portions of said corner fold lines to the ad acent portions of said parts intermediate said side walls, and means detachably connecting said retaining tabs to said adjacent end wall when said tabs are folded into parallelism with said side walls.

3. A box of the class described comprising a bottom, side walls, end walls, corner parts at the corresponding ends of said side walls and integral therewith, said corner arts also being integral with the adjacent 0 said end walls, said corner parts bein folded upon themselves to provide portions arranged inwardly of and joined to said side walls, and retaining tabs integral with said corner parts and foldable thereover inwardly thereof and extending parallel with the side walls and having portions detachably connected to said adjacent of said end walls to hold said box in expanded condition.

4. A box of the class described comprising a bottom, side walls, end walls, end tabs at corresponding ends of said side walls arranged inwardly of and joined to the adjacent of said end walls, corner parts at the opposite ends of said side walls and integral therewith, said corner parts also being integral with the other of said end walls, said corner parts being folded upon themselves to provide portions arranged inwardly of and joined to said side walls, and retaining tabs integral with said corner parts and foldable thereover inwardly thereof and having retaining ears thereon extendin parallel with the side walls when the retaming tabs are folded over the corner parts, the adjacent of said end walls having openings therein into which said retaining ears are extended to thereby retain said side walls and the end walls in right angular postion with respect to said bottom.

5. A box of the class described comprising a bottom, side walls, end walls, and tabs at corresponding ends of said side walls arranged inwardly of and joined to the adjacent of said end walls, corner parts at the opposite ends of said side walls and integral therewith, said corner parts also being integral with the other of said end walls, said corner parts being folded upon themselves to provide portions arranged inwardly of and 'oined to said side walls, and retaining tabs integral with said corner parts and foldable thereover inwardly thereof and having retainin ears thereon extendin parallel with the side walls when the retainmg tabs are folded over said corner parts, the adj acent of said end walls having openings therein into which said retaining ears are extended to thereby retain said side walls and the end walls in right angular osition with respect to said bottom, said si e walls having flaps on the outer ed es thereof adapted to be bent inwardly of t e side walls to extend between the opposite end walls to hold said end walls against inward movement toward said bottom, said side walls the STANLEY J. KLEIN. 

